Research from Diversity Council Australia (DCA) and Suncorp shines a light on discrimination in the workplace and shows employees in diverse teams are more likely to be effective.

Employees in inclusive teams are 19 times more likely to be “very satisfied” with their job and 10 times more likely to be “highly effective”, according to the DCA-Suncorp inclusion@work index.

About 22% of workers experienced discrimination or harassment last year, with the figure spiking to 38% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 34% for disabled people and 30% for employees aged under 30.

The index examines inclusion and its impact on performance, satisfaction, success and security, based on a survey of 3000 workers that will be repeated biennially.

“The findings will start important conversations that lead to more inclusiveness in all types of organisations,” Suncorp CEO Michael Cameron said. “Our businesses perform at their best when leaders provide an environment where people feel included, connected and valued.”

Employees in inclusive teams are nine times more likely to innovate and four times more likely to stay with their employer over the coming year.

DCA CEO Lisa Annese says despite the benefits, people who do not belong to minority or diversity groups, such as men from Anglo-cultural backgrounds and older men, are less supportive of inclusion programs.

About 75% of people support or strongly support inclusion, she says.

“Cutting harassment and increasing job satisfaction has significant repercussions.

“And inclusion, as it turns out, plays a much bigger part in achieving this than we previously knew – our research provides the missing piece of statistical evidence about just how important it is.”

The survey examined diversity across social and professional identity, including age, caring responsibilities, background, sexual orientation and gender.